I am elated to announce in the last month six of my pieces have been selected to be shown in three galleries around Atlanta between September and November!

The pieces reflect the bounty and breadth of beauty in our world, from its landscapes, to lives, to shared experiences such as enjoying a late night hot dog or clamoring into a tiny space to catch a glimpse of Jesus’ birthplace.

Please come check them out, even take one (or more) home to enjoy at your leisure!

I am so grateful for your support and encouragement to help me get to this point. I look forward to keeping you posted on what unfolds!

International Guild of Visual Peacemakers is one of the most inspirational organizations I have come across. They are “visual communicators devoted to peacemaking and breaking down stereotypes by displaying the beauty and dignity of various cultures around the world.” Their vision does not just speak to “professional” photographers, but all of us who have become photographers, mostly on our phones.

We live in a more visual culture than ever before and so we need to now consider how our actions affect others and ourselves. Let us join in such a beautiful vision and I encourage you to take these messages to heart:

My hope is to present you with a window into the magnificently resilient, inspiring, forward-thinking, eclectic country that is Lebanon. Despite its history of trials and tragedies, including a war from 1975-1990 which the country is still recovering from, Lebanon has persevered. It has also generously opened its doors to others in need and remained a fairly stable and peaceful land amidst war-torn neighbors.

Unfortunately, the tides are beginning to change and new restrictions are beginning to arise as the number of refugees in Lebanon has skyrocketed in the last two years due to violence in both Syria and Iraq. Prior to this recent influx, Lebanon received a flood of refugees fleeing from Palestine, largely from 1948-1967 when it was divided from the new state of Israel and came under the rule of Jordan. Currently, Lebanon is experiencing a growing number of immigrants from African and South Asian countries, as well. Now 25%, if not more, of Lebanon’s small population of four million is made up of immigrants and refugees. You can imagine the challenge this places on the country’s infrastructure. Yet, what can they do? How morally afflictive would it be for this culture steeped hospitality if they had to one day close their borders completely?

Amidst the challenges, uncertainties and pressures these fast changes have brought, the people in Lebanon–natives, refugees, and immigrants alike– live lives of astounding resilience, hope, and joy. People are joining together, extending exemplary hospitality and showing remarkable compassion. It is these people I introduce to you.

May you be blessed and inspired as you meet our brothers and sister in the Middle East face to face, eye to eye, story to story–yours and theirs, now a part of each others.

Last month I went to Lebanon for 10 days with The Outreach Foundation and had the honor of listening to stories of Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi Christians. It was apparent our sheer presence was all that was needed, just a pair of listening ears, open and compassionate hearts, and to respond to one request, “Go back and tell the truth.”

The truth is, Lebanon is suffering with brownouts and scarcity of resources as their population has grown to 4 million, a quarter being refugees and other immigrants.

The truth is, most Syrian cities have 0-12 hours of electricity a day, the World Food Program voucher relief was recently cancelled due to lack of funding, fuel prices have skyrocketed to unaffordable rates, our family of faith is deprived of the basic needs of water, electricity, gas and means for cooking and warmth and…winter is coming. The truth is Christians are being persecuted severely for their faith with death threats and killings by extremists.

And the truth is, all the while, people have not given up on God. They remain so faithful. In fact, church attendance has increased since the war in Syria began in 2011. For, they know the power of community and prayer, and what it is to need to believe God is our refuge, strength, provider, and hope, and they are experiencing God be so.

On my second to last day in Beirut I attended a Bible study with Christian Iraqi refugees. We studied Psalm 57 (see below), a psalm of supplication, hope, grief and praise. Previously, I had always had to approach this scripture abstractly. I have never experienced violent enemies or utter devastation. However, that morning I sat in the presence of women who were all too familiar with brutality and disaster. Through their faces, energy, and prayers I, too, connected with it all. You can imagine how wondrous a feeling it was to experience scripture truly alive and relevant. Yet, it was also horrifying and tragic to realize these awful words are my sisters’ story. Simultaneously, it was all the more remarkable to witness their genuine praise. I encourage you to read the psalm and offer it for reflection and a window into their lives.

Psalm 57
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.
3 God sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
God sends forth love and faithfulness.
4 I am in the midst of lions;
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
people whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
6 They spread a net for my feet—
I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.
7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

The truth is, our family of faith in Lebanon and Syria exemplify the affect scripture and faith have if we open ourselves to them. As they modeled with the psalms, if we unleash our cries to God, lament our fears, rest in hope, and choose to still sing praises, our faith will be enlivened. If we begin to love all our neighbors as ourselves and ‘care for each other as humans than according to religious tradition,’ as one Syrian pastor attested to, we will see the Kingdom arise in our midst. We will watch our enemies become our neighbors when we pray for them instead of fearing them. When we ask God to wrap our enemies in mercy and love and keep them from harming others and themselves, and ask God to grow us in compassion, grace and love, we will all become neighbors and our world will be transformed.

The truth is, our sisters and brothers in Lebanon and Syria have witnessed to us we have great reason to hope and also great need to pray. Will you join me in hope and prayer.